Chapter 509: When Did You Two Start?

Watching the shifting expression on Jiu Tianliu's face, Zhang Yu thought to himself, Getting anxious, are we?

Jiu Tianliu, for his part, simply couldn’t understand it. He couldn’t fathom how Zhang Yu could bring up something like joining a sect.

Entering a sect… is that something you can even dream about? Something you're even worthy of imagining?

But the next moment, a thought struck him: This guy… he must be using the sect as a bargaining chip to drive up the price.

Thinking this, Jiu Tianliu let out a cold chuckle internally, then continued walking forward with Zhang Yu and said in a low tone, “Every genius who joins a sect is truly chosen by the heavens. Their acceptance into a sect is decided even before they’re born.”

Zhang Yu was surprised. “Before birth?”

He had originally thought that some rich kids gaining a head start at birth was already impressive. But now, Jiu Tianliu was telling him that some people had their spot in a sect decided before they were even born?

Jiu Tianliu spoke indifferently, “Some are born blessed by the heavens, their fate tied to the sect since the time of their parents. Even a strand of their hair is far nobler than your entire being.”

“Some have cultivated bitterly across two lifetimes, their foundations a thousand times, ten thousand times deeper than yours. They join a sect based solely on their transcendent skill.”

“There are even those born from the essence of yin and yang, nourished by the spirit of heaven and earth, whose seats in the sect were determined early on.”

Jiu Tianliu turned to look at Zhang Yu as if he were a child who had said something foolish. “If this were two hundred years ago, during the old cultivation era, your current level might’ve qualified you for a sect. But could you have reached this level at your age back then, with the old cultivation technologies?”

“These days, whether you can join a sect has already been decided before you're even born. What right do you have to compete?”

Then, he shifted his tone, offering comfort. “Still, not joining a sect might not be a bad thing. There’s a certain freedom in staying below…”

Zhang Yu thought silently, If it’s so nice down here, why don’t you go live on the first floor?

Of course, Jiu Tianliu had no idea what Zhang Yu was thinking. He continued, “With the support of the Finance Department, the heights you can reach will far exceed your imagination.”

“Once you join, we’ll gather fortune for you—at least a hundred trending topics per year, over a million daily impressions. Everyone in Wanfa, even all college students, will know your name. You’ll be a top influencer in your field, your fortune soaring.”

“With the Finance Department’s network, countless businesses will partner with you, offering you advertising deals. You’ll be able to monetize your fortune, ensuring you won’t face any financial obstacles all the way to the Nascent Soul stage.”

“There’s also traffic protection. Even if you're suppressed or throttled by Divine Lord Nectar, we can use the Eight Divine Ministries to check your status or even lift your bans…”

Zhang Yu asked, “So there’s really no way I can join a sect?”

Jiu Tianliu couldn’t help but laugh in frustration. Pointing at Zhang Yu, he said, “Stop using the sect to raise your price. The offer we’re making today is already the best. Not even the Artifact Refinement Department can match it, let alone Civil Engineering.”

“If someone says they can get you into a sect, there’s only one explanation—they’re lying to you.”

“Because no one except a liar could meet your demands.”

But no matter what Jiu Tianliu said, Zhang Yu had already made up his mind: joining the Finance Department was never going to happen.

After all, the whole model of the Finance Department—playing with finance, manipulating fortune, chasing clout, high-leverage schemes, insider trading—it just didn’t suit him. It didn’t play to any of his strengths.

On the other hand, the Artifact Refinement Department not only suited him better, it allowed him to achieve better results. True Lord Magneto had also given him countless opportunities. His research project on the Nascent Soul Law Husk was still in her hands.

Whether in terms of logic, long-term benefit, or personal sentiment, the Artifact Refinement Department was far more attractive than the Finance Department.

All things considered, joining the Artifact Refinement Department would even improve his chances of joining a sect in the future.

Seeing how unmoved Zhang Yu was, Jiu Tianliu’s expression turned slightly sour. He was beginning to realize that the task his senior had assigned might fail in his hands.

He said coldly, “Zhang Yu, I suggest you think very carefully about your answer today.”

“Your loans, your fortune trajectory, your company’s projects… they’re all tied to the Finance Department.”

“As far as I know, you and your company barely have any funds left, right?”

Zhang Yu understood clearly—Jiu Tianliu was now openly threatening him.

Perhaps after rejecting the Finance Department, his loans would get blocked. Maybe his fortune would be seized. The company might even run into serious trouble.

But Zhang Yu still shook his head. “Sorry. I really have no interest in the Finance Department.”

Watching Zhang Yu walk away, Jiu Tianliu’s eyes flickered with disbelief and a flash of anger from being rejected.

Ever since joining the Finance Department, Jiu Tianliu had always been the center of attention wherever he went. Countless people sought to flatter him, begging for just a sliver of the department’s resources.

He had always been the one doing the rejecting. When had anyone ever turned them down?

“Zhang Yu…”

Jiu Tianliu shook his head and muttered, “Idiot.”

…

Not long after Zhang Yu left the Finance Department, messages began to appear in his EyeNet.

Every single one was about project issues—partners suspending cooperation.

Zhang Yu thought to himself, So it’s begun already?

He knew that most of the Civil Engineering Department’s construction firms worked on Finance Department loans or received projects through their real estate branches.

A slight funding delay, a small procedural hiccup, or even a brief postponement of a payment—all of it could bring massive losses to these companies.

Zhang Yu understood—if the Civil Engineering companies suspended cooperation with him, it would only take a word from the Finance Department. Even Director Gao might not be able to stop it.

At that moment, he received a message from Ying Xin.

Ying Xin: Boss, the company’s out of money. We haven’t been able to pay the staff for the past couple of days.

Ying Xin: Also, they asked me to check with you—why did the project suddenly come to a halt?

…

Meanwhile, not long after Zhang Yu’s departure, the Civil Engineering banquet ended in frustration as well.

At this very moment, inside True Lord Magneto’s office—

A projection of Director Gao appeared. Looking at True Lord Magneto, he said, “You were right. The Finance Department has definitely set their sights on Zhang Yu.”

“It’s a pity. Even though I tried to move faster, they still managed to interfere.”

“They’re taking this more seriously than I expected.”

True Lord Magneto, of course, understood how seriously the Finance Department was taking things. After all, she had been the one pushing the experimental progress of the Nascent Soul Law Husk through True Lord Tianzhang, highlighting Zhang Yu’s value to provoke them again and again.

She asked, “Aren’t you worried that after visiting the Finance Department, Zhang Yu might decide to join them?”

Director Gao recalled the scene where Zhang Yu rejected True Lord Chainspindle and said with emotion, “He’s braver than I was at his age—and smarter, too.”

“I believe he won’t be so easily intimidated.”

“But even if he stays in Civil Engineering, I can’t protect him.”

Director Gao also saw the news of Zhang Yu’s company losing collaborations. He knew this was only the beginning. If no one intervened, Zhang Yu would face increasingly fierce suppression from the Finance Department.

In the history of Wanfa University, there had been other talented students who rose rapidly, only to be crushed by the Finance Department.

He turned to True Lord Magneto and said, “Take him in. You’re the only one who can protect him now.”

True Lord Magneto sighed. “But he’s still your disciple. How can I just…”

Director Gao cut her off. “Didn’t Zhang Yu want to join the Artifact Refinement Department long ago?”

True Lord Magneto asked, “Why do you say that?”

He answered, “I noticed he’s been studying artifact refinement.”

She replied lightly, “It’s not strange for Civil Engineering students to learn a bit of artifact crafting. It helps with future equipment control and husk maintenance…”

Director Gao interrupted, “When did it start between you two?”

True Lord Magneto: “What are you talking about?”

Director Gao: “Was it that time I had you mentor him during the Civil Engineering competition? Is that when you noticed him?”

“Or when I asked you to make a magical item for him?”

“Or maybe when he earned his military license, and I brought him up to you again?”

True Lord Magneto said, “Old Gao, don’t overthink it. Zhang Yu’s talent and aptitude are outstanding, yes, but not more than the bond between us. If you want him to stay in Civil Engineering, I can help you.”

Director Gao gave a wry smile. “Keep him here now? Just to watch him be suppressed by the Finance Department? He’d resent me forever.”

True Lord Magneto looked at him seriously. “Chongguang, are you angry?”

“Angry?” Director Gao said indifferently. “What right does someone from the Civil Engineering Department have to be angry?”

“You’ve already given me plenty of face. Why would I be angry with you? You’re the head of the Artifact Refinement Department. How could I dare?”

True Lord Magneto sighed. “It’s not what you think, Chongguang.”

Just then, Zhang Yu’s icon appeared in the air—he had arrived and was requesting entry.

Director Gao said, “He’s here for you.”

True Lord Magneto replied, “I asked him to come.”

As she spoke, the office doors opened, and Zhang Yu stepped inside.

But under True Lord Magneto’s deliberate interference, Zhang Yu could not see Director Gao’s presence, while Director Gao could clearly see Zhang Yu and True Lord Magneto before him.

True Lord Magneto beckoned him over and asked, “So, how was the Finance Department?”

Zhang Yu began recounting his entire experience touring the Finance Department in detail to True Lord Magneto.

As he spoke, she gently ruffled his hair and asked, “So you turned down their offer?”

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